Post workout shakes are like getting rewarded after beating yourself into the ground in a workout. They were totally invented as positive reinforcement. Not because they refuel you, but because they taste like heaven.
If you have read my blog for a little now, you know I love working out. Absolutely love it. Mostly in the form of CrossFit. I don’t like going to 24 hour fitness or other globo-type gyms and just lifting weights or running on the treadmill. I love being in a class format with my close friends, sweating a ton, lifting quickly and doing cardio at the same time, going through a lot of pain in a short amount of time, and seeing results. That’s what CrossFit is. CrossFit to me is about working hard for your results. It’s not about judging other people or feeling uncomfortable in the gym. It’s about finding your inner fire and learning about your body. I know that sounds lame, but I’m serious. CrossFit gave me confidence, it made me a hard worker, and it’s brought me closer to people I would never have known without my gym. CrossFit has honestly made me the person and I am today and I truly love that person.
Quick back story if you haven’t read my blog for very long. STORY TIME YAY. I started CrossFit around 2010ish. I competed in CrossFit Southwest Regional twice in 2011 then 2012. I ate, drank, and breathed CrossFit. It was the only thing I did. I wanted to get stronger and faster AND sexier. For me, that didn’t seem to be possible. When I started to compete, I put on about 30 pounds, mostly muscle, I think. I got stronger AND faster, but I didn’t fit into any of my clothes other than my Lululemon spandex, and my acne was out of control. I went back and forth about how I felt in my skin, but it was a bit exhausting not feeling comfortable regularly. After Regionals 2012 and an injury soon thereafter, I decided that I didn’t want to compete in CrossFit anymore. I wanted to feel good in my skin and be comfortable with myself. So I did what was very hard for me and cut back in my weights in workouts. I stopped trying to beat others in workouts and just concentrated on myself.
After probably 3-4 months, I had lost almost 10 pounds. After over 1 year, I think I’ve lost about 15 pounds, but I try to not get on the scale because the scale doesn’t mean sh*t. I don’t know what my weight is now and I probably won’t until I go to the doctor and that b*tch makes me step on a scale. Dumb. But I am finally comfortable in my skin for the first time in years. I still CrossFit usually 6 times per week, but I tend to not go very heavy in my workouts. I eat more than I used to and I don’t worry near as much about being super strict with my diet. I honestly believe that my hormones were so out of control from lifting so heavy, that my body just couldn’t handle it. The less I lift super heavy, the more my body evens out and the happier I am. The happier I am, the more my body does the things I want it to do. It’s weird.
So anyways, I sometimes like post workout food and sometimes don’t. Yesterday, I did. So I made a shake that would refuel me AND keep me even more hyper than I already am. It did the job. I was bouncing through the roof while I taught my CrossFit classes. They were annoyed. I was thrilled. It was awkward. And based on the length of this post, I’m still really hyper. I’ll stop now.
Post Workout Sweet Potato Coffee Protein Shake
- Yield: 1-2 1x
Ingredients
- 1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed, cooked, and frozen* (about 1 cup)
- 2 cups almond milk
- 1 scoop Vanilla Primal Fuel (or any protein you prefer)
- 1 tablespoon sweetener (honey, maple syrup, etc.)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2–1 teaspoon ground coffee (depending what you prefer)
- 1 tablespoon groundchia seeds (this is optional, but it thickens the shake a bit)
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a Blendtec (or other blender/food processor) and puree until completely smooth.
- Drink up buttercup!
Notes
I cooked the cubed sweet potato at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes, then let it cool and froze it over night. If you don’t have frozen, cooked sweet potato, just add a cooked sweet potato along with 2 cups of ice
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Juli – You are AMAZEBALLS! I love your wit, wisdom and wonder of it all! Thank you for the inspiration!!
I will make this shake after my workout today – can’t wait!
One quick question for you: I’m training for the Boston Marathon (yay…and running as a 60 year old – woohoo!). It’s my 10th marathon (but haven’t done one for 5 years). I’m all Paleo now (love it) – my question is what to munch on runs over 15 miles (GU and all that jazz is pure sugar!). Do you think dates, or dried cherries will give me the same benefit?
Your thoughts are so welcome and appreciated!
Thanks for all you do,
Kate
I like the endurance gel that Vega makes… Not strict paleo but I think it’s the most natural one out there. I can’t remember exactly what’s in there off the top of my head, but mostly dates, and fruit syrup.
I just made this, and it’s amazing! Love your recipes, Juli!
Looks yummy! Thank you!
Looks a bit extreme, lots of fast carbs. I will check how it tastes. Thanks!
Thanks for this post! This is exactly what I needed to read. With the open right around the corner, I needed the healthy reminder to compete with myself and not the other people around me!
I made this today sans honey to fuel up between workouts (my pantry is bare….. and its too snowy to go to the store). Oh dear lord it was amazing. If i lived in colorado i would bring you something nice as repayment for this glorious recipe.
I make something like this with pumpkin. It reminds me of my Starbucks days, the iced pumpkin latte!
OMG! I have to say this was sooooo delicious, the only modifications I made was to add a paleo protein powder and some hemp. I made it and my crossfit crew all loved it as well.
Thank you Juli! You have never failed to satisfy my good cravings.
I am going to order some of that pasta next.
Sweet potato sounds intense in a smoothie. But I kind of want to try it just to see what it tastes like lol. This is my favorite post-workout smoothie right now: http://www.ivlproducts.com/all-day-energy-greens-drink/fitness-and-nutrition/Post-Workout-Nutrition-Greens-Supplement-Green-Drink.aspx
I am absolutely blown away that people are being so judgmental of Meg. In case you forgot where you are posting this is a PALEO blog. Meg eats PALEO, so why on earth are you being so hypocritical? She mentions in practically every single post that she writes that she is intentionally trying to gain weight, and relishes in the fact that she now has curves. Please don’t forget that some people naturally have trouble keeping weight on their bodies, regardless of what they eat because they have been blessed with fast metabolisms. So she likes eating healthy and going to the gym, so what? I would think that somebody reading a PALEO blog would like those things too. Who are we to judge her? And SO WHAT if she likes to eat the same foods? Fuck I could live off of Juli’s Spaghetti Squash Casserole for the rest of my life if I could. Seriously people leave the girl alone, she’s just doing what works for her.